15 simple salves and balms made with plant-based ingredients • Schisandra & Bergamot

Plant-based salves and balms are some of the simplest herbal creations to make at home, offering soothing comfort with minimal ingredients. Whether you’re easing dry skin, calming sore muscles, or nourishing chapped lips, these gentle blends highlight the healing power of herbs and natural oils.

They’re affordable, customizable, and perfect for building a beginner-friendly apothecary. Here are 15 easy, plant-powered salves and balms you can create with just a few wholesome ingredients.

Juniper Berry Salve

Five tins of balm with evergreen sprigs on top, surrounded by various greenery, placed on a wooden surface. — Photo Credit: Schisandra & Bergamot

An easy, healing juniper berry salve to soothe inflammation. This DIY salve uses only 3 ingredients and is the perfect addition to any medicine cupboard.

Get The Recipe: Juniper Berry Salve

Yarrow Salve

Round tins of balm and a lip balm tube are displayed on a wooden surface. Each tin is adorned with a small white flower. — Photo Credit: Schisandra & Bergamot

Use this yarrow salve recipe to make boo boo sticks or a yarrow balm to have on hand for a large variety of uses.

Get The Recipe: Yarrow Salve

DIY Floral-Infused Hand Salve Recipe

Two metal tins filled with yellow balm sit on a wooden surface, surrounded by dried flowers and lavender sprigs. — Photo Credit: Schisandra & Bergamot

Give your hands a little TLC with this homemade flower-infused hand salve. Made with nourishing oils, creamy shea butter, and a touch of beeswax, it melts into your skin to soften and soothe.

Get The Recipe: DIY Floral-Infused Hand Salve Recipe

DIY Beeswax Lotion

A jar filled with creamy homemade lotion, tied with twine, placed on a dark wooden surface with scattered paper and small white beads nearby. — Photo Credit: Schisandra & Bergamot

Soothe your skin and calm your senses with this DIY beeswax lotion! Made with only five, all-natural ingredients, this creamy homemade lotion recipe nourishes your skin and your senses with the calming aroma of vanilla and nutmeg.

Get The Recipe: DIY Beeswax Lotion

Comfrey Salve

Learn how to make nourishing comfrey salve at home with this easy recipe. Perfect for soothing skin, minor aches, and natural first aid.

Get The Recipe: Comfrey Salve

DIY Sleep Salve With Essential Oils

A brown glass jar filled with balm sits next to dried chamomile flowers and a blue patterned cloth on a white surface. — Photo Credit: Fit As A Mama Bear

A soothing DIY sleep salve infused with calming essential oils to relax the mind, nourish the skin, and help you unwind for a deeper, more restful night’s sleep.

Get The Recipe: DIY Sleep Salve With Essential Oils

Homemade Bug Bite Balm

A round tin filled with pale green balm is placed on a white surface next to a sheer white cloth and green leaves. — Photo Credit: The Oklahoma Homesteader

Homemade bug bite balm made with natural, skin-nourishing ingredients. These balms offer a chemical-free alternative to store-bought creams.

Get The Recipe: Homemade Bug Bite Balm

Magnesium Balm

Soothe muscles and improve relaxation with this easy DIY magnesium balm. All-natural, nourishing, and perfect for dry skin!

Get The Recipe: Magnesium Balm

Oregano Salve

A tin of green salve is open on a flat surface, with dried herbs scattered on a wooden board in the background. — Photo Credit: Kateable

Learn how to make oregano salve with this step-by-step guide. If you’ve been looking for a natural solution to soothe skin irritations, muscle aches, or even dryness, oregano salve might just be your new go-to.

Get The Recipe: Oregano Salve

Calendula Salve

A metal tin filled with balm sits on a white surface next to dried yellow flowers, a folded cloth, and a small potted plant in the background. — Photo Credit: Kateable

A gentle, skin-soothing salve made with calendula flowers to calm irritation, support healing, and nourish dry or sensitive skin with every application.

Get The Recipe: Calendula Salve

Lavender Salve

A tin of balm sits on a light surface next to dried lavender flowers, loose lavender, and a patterned white cloth. — Photo Credit: Kateable

A calming, aromatic salve infused with lavender to soothe the skin, ease tension, and promote relaxation with every nourishing application.

Get The Recipe: Lavender Salve

Homemade Charcoal Salve

Close-up of small round containers filled with a dark liquid, placed on a dark countertop. — Photo Credit: Simple Living. Creative Learning

This charcoal drawing salve is a wonderful natural remedy to keep on hand for those times when a splinter or small wound needs attention.

Get The Recipe: Homemade Charcoal Salve

Rose Salve

Three round metal tins filled with a beige balm are arranged in a row in front of scattered pink rose petals on a white surface. — Photo Credit: Simple Living. Creative Learning

Incredibly easy to make, learn how to make this lovely rose salve that is amazingly beneficial for your skin.

Get The Recipe: Rose Salve

Easy DIY Nipple Cream

A rectangular tin filled with a pale yellow balm sits on a white wooden surface, surrounded by dried yellow flowers, a wooden scoop, a small tin, and a yellow cloth. — Photo Credit: Fit As A Mama Bear

Help soothe cracked nipples by using this all-natural, homemade nipple cream for breastfeeding! Made with only two ingredients plus the healing herbs of lavender and calendula, this DIY nipple cream is a staple for new moms.

Get The Recipe: Easy DIY Nipple Cream

Homemade Natural Tinted Lip Balm

A tube of pink lip balm stands upright next to a spoon holding a small amount of balm, with several more tubes in the background on a wooden surface. — Photo Credit: Fit As A Mama Bear

Looking to add some color to your lips while keeping them moisturized? Learn how to make your own all natural DIY tinted lip balm!

Get The Recipe: Homemade Natural Tinted Lip Balm

Creating your own salves and balms is an empowering way to care for yourself with simple, plant-based ingredients. These recipes offer natural support for everything from dry skin to sore muscles while keeping your routines gentle and intentional. With just a few herbs and oils, you can build a comforting collection of remedies that feel both nurturing and timeless.